For the first time in their career, The Darkness brought their glam-rock theatrics to Kitchener, transforming Elements Night Club into a sweaty, jubilant showcase of falsettos, riffs, and theatrical chaos. Nestled between shows at The Phoenix Concert Theatre in Toronto and Club Soda in Montreal, the band treated Kitchener to a night of high-octane rock that had the sold-out crowd on their feet from start to finish.
From the first chords of “Rock and Roll Party Cowboy,” it was immediately clear that The Darkness had no intention of playing it safe. Justin Hawkins bounced across the stage like a manic ringmaster, borrowing hats and glasses from fans mid-song, then returning them like sacred relics, and somehow making every interaction feel part of the spectacle. When “Mortal Dread” hit, Justin vanished into the crowd and crowd-surfed, and the audience lit up with smiles and cheers, many fans capturing the moment on their phones — a ritual for longtime Darkness fans, but a thrilling new spectacle for those seeing the band live for the first time at Elements Night Club.
The setlist was a perfect storm of classics and new material. “Growing on Me” and “Get Your Hands Off My Woman” punched through the air, while “Love Is Only a Feeling” had the crowd swaying in unison, arms raised like a mass of human windmills. “Givin’ Up” turned the room into a chaotic dance floor, and by the time “Friday Night” rang out, every voice in the room was screaming the chorus as if the walls themselves were singing.
Hawkins’ humor ran as high as the falsettos. He took playful polls about air conditioning, offered fans the chance to bribe drummer Rufus Tiger Taylor into undressing (Rufus kept his dignity, shirt and pants intact), and even delivered a shoutout to fan Claire Samuels before tearing into “I Believe in a Thing Called Love.” The crowd’s response was deafening, a riot of cheering, stomping, and uncontained excitement that matched the band’s own theatrical energy.
Special guest Mark Daly made his Canadian debut. Tracks like “Better Off Alone” and “Peace of Mind” showcased his gritty vocals and knack for commanding a room, proving that the Irish rocker can hold his own on a stage dominated by larger-than-life theatrics. His set was concise, compelling, and the perfect prelude to the chaos that followed.
Amid the sweat, the jokes, and the flying guitar picks, there was a sense that The Darkness were doing something rare: making every attendee feel like a participant in the absurd, glorious drama. Justin went shirtless at one point, tattoos on display, guitar picks stuck to his chest for fun, and every quip or crowd interaction felt spontaneous yet perfectly timed.
By the time the encore landed — “Weekend in Rome” and the bitterly hilarious “I Hate Myself” — the crowd was spent, elated, and grinning from ear to ear. Every joke, guitar riff, and soaring falsetto from The Darkness filled the sold-out Elements Night Club, leaving fans laughing, cheering, and reveling in the sweaty, unrestrained thrill of the evening.
If this was a taste of what the Dreams on Toast tour has in store, the rest of North America is in for one hell of a ride.
A huge thanks to Renee Harrison from Publicity Please for the accreditation.
The Darkness
Mark Daly
I’m Drew, the founder and editor of Front of the Stage. I have a strong love for music and photography, which started at a very young age. There’s just something I love about experiencing live music and capturing memories that will last a lifetime, and that’s how Front of the Stage came to be.
Related Posts
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band: Dancing Through Decades of Rock in Toronto
On a crisp November night in Toronto, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band transformed […]
Fettish @ The Rockpile, Toronto
I had been to the Fetish show on the last night of their tour, and […]
Lamb of God @ Budweiser Stage, Toronto
Lamb of God Melts Faces at Budweiser Stage The American heavy metal band Lamb of […]